Governor resigns after claims he had been involved in inappropriate sexual conduct at his former school as the government launches a probe into the suicide of Frances Andrade

A senior teacher at the Royal Northern College of Music has stood down as a governor after a court heard allegations that he had been involved in inappropriate sexual conduct at his former school.

Violin tutor Malcolm Layfield has resigned from his role on the board at the prestigious Manchester music college and is also on sick leave ‘until further notice’.

It follows allegations of his inappropriate conduct at previous school, Chetham’s School of Music, made during the trial of former colleague Michael Brewer.

Police yesterday announced they had launched a new inquiry into sex abuse claims at Chetham’s after more alleged victims came forward.

Last week, former Chetham’s director of music Michael Brewer was found guilty of five indecent assault charges against then pupil Frances Andrade.

Aged 14 when the abuse began, she committed suicide after giving evidence against her attacker. But while in court she also named Malcolm Layfield and made allegations about his conduct involving a fellow Chetham's pupil during a school trip - adding he had gone on to be involved with ‘countless others’. She also said she had been ‘mentally abused’ by Mr Layfield after resisting his advances.

Mr Layfield, who worked at Chetham's during the 1980s and 1990s, has admitted having sexual relationships with a number of pupils at the time.

Two teachers at the RNCM resigned in protest in 2002 when it was announced he would be taking up a post there as head of strings.

But the college pressed ahead with the appointment as none of the students involved had been under the age of consent. The college has now announced his resignation as a governor.

Principal Professor Linda Merrick said: “The RNCM considered the situation and took what it considered at the time to be the appropriate steps.

“Mr Layfield is presently absent from work due to ill-health and the RNCM is therefore not able to comment further on this matter at this time.”

Mr Layfield said in a statement to the M.E.N. last night: “These matters were fully investigated by the RNCM and widely reported in 2002 and at no stage were allegations of criminal behaviour made and the college shared this information with the police at the time.

“I made it clear then as I do now that I deeply regret my behaviour.

“I felt it appropriate to resign as a governor of the college to avoid the interest in my personal life affecting the college.”

Brewer was found guilty of five counts of indecent assault and his former wife of one count.

A spokeswoman for Chetham’s confirmed police were now investigating more historic sexual abuse allegations at the prestigious school – dating back to the 1980s.

Chief Supt Russ Jackson said ‘several people’ had come forward to police since the end of the Brewer trial last week

Government probe launched into suicide of Chetham's School of Music student

Frances Andrade

A governemnt investigation is being launched over the suicide of a former Chetham's School of Music student who gave evidence against her former music teacher.

Home secretary Theresa May will look at lessons that can be learned from the death of Frances Andrade - who killed herself after being cross examined in the case of Michael Brewer at Manchester Crown Court.

Ms May announced the inquiry - which will look at how police handle sexual abuse case - in the House of Commons yesterday.

Brewer, former director of music at Chetham's, was found guilty of five indecent assault charges against Frances last week. Greater Manchester Police won praise from Ms May's opposite number, in the Commons yesterday for offering counselling to Frances - while Surrey Police, the force covering the area where Frances died, failed to do so.

Ms Cooper said Frances had been 'let down by the criminal justice system whose job it was to help and protect her'.

She added: "The Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner has said in the last couple of days, 'it's the responsibility of the police to present evidence to the court with the victim in a way which is untainted.

That means they will not and should not refer a victim for counselling until after they have given their evidence.'

"Do you agree this approach by Surrey Police is completely unacceptable, goes against national guidance, and that victims of sexual abuse should never be denied the support and counselling they need?"

Ms May said: "This was a terrible case when you look at the details of this and we all have sympathy with the family and what they have gone through.

"Obviously this whole question of how the police deal with rape cases is one that is being looked at and we have been trying to improve the police handling of this under both governments, over a number of years.

"We all recognise that one of the issues here is the difficulty victims feel in coming forward and sadly when we see incidents such as has happened in this case, I fear others may be put off from coming forward rather than encouraged from coming forward.

"I think we do need to look very carefully at what has happened at what has happened in this case and very carefully at how we can further improve the system to ensure victims feel they will be believed when they come forward and they can have the confidence of taking their case through the courts."

Malcolm Layfield, a senior teacher at the Royal Northern College of Music, also in Manchester, has resigned from as a board member following of allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct at Chetham's - where Layfield used to teach - aired during Brewer's trial.

Previous Articles

A "brilliant and charismatic" musical director of an internationally renowned music school abused his position of trust to sexually target young female students, a court heard today. Michael Brewer, 67, "could not keep his hands off at least two pupils and propositioned a third" during his time at Chetham's School in Manchester.

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